AI Cheating Is So Out of Hand In America’s Schools That the Blue Books Are Coming Back | Pen and paper is back, baby.

In a striking response to the rampant misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, U.S. colleges and high schools are reviving a relic of the past: the blue book. These unassuming, stapled booklets with lined pages and blue covers, once dreaded for their association with grueling handwritten exams, are staging a comeback as educators grapple with an AI-driven cheating epidemic. A May 2025 Gizmodo article, titled “AI Cheating Is So Out of Hand In America’s Schools That the Blue Books Are Coming Back,” captures the urgency of the issue, noting a surge in blue book sales as schools fight back against tools like ChatGPT. With 89% of college students admitting to using AI for assignments, the return to pen and paper signals a desperate bid to preserve academic integrity. Below, we explore the causes, implications, and limitations of this analog revival, drawing on recent reports and sentiment from X.

The AI Cheating Epidemic

The rise of generative AI tools, particularly since ChatGPT’s launch in November 2022, has transformed the academic landscape. These tools can generate essays, solve math problems, write code, and answer complex questions with minimal input, making them a tempting shortcut for students. A 2025 survey cited by The Wall Street Journal revealed that 89% of college students have used ChatGPT for homework, while a 2023 Pew survey found that 25% of 13- to 17-year-olds use it for schoolwork, double the rate from 2023.

This widespread adoption has led to what Gizmodo calls an “anti-intellectualism sweeping the nation,” with students viewing education as a “high-stakes video game to be algorithmically juked.” The ease of AI-assisted cheating has outpaced detection tools, which often fail to identify AI-generated content reliably. A 2024 Education Week report noted that only 11% of assignments reviewed by Turnitin’s AI detection tool showed significant AI use, but educators remain skeptical, as 63% reported students getting in trouble for suspected AI use in 2023–24, up from 48% the previous year.

X posts reflect similar alarm. @MarioNawfal reported in March 2025 that 40% of students use AI to cheat on homework, with teachers struggling to detect it, while @drantbradley noted that large state schools are particularly challenged by tech-driven learning systems that enable AI use. The sentiment underscores a growing fear that AI is eroding critical thinking and authentic learning.

The Blue Book Revival

To counter this, educators are turning to blue books—simple, low-tech booklets used for in-class handwritten exams. The Wall Street Journal reported significant sales increases since ChatGPT’s debut: Texas A&M University saw a 30% rise, the University of Florida nearly 50%, and UC Berkeley an astounding 80% over two academic years. Roaring Spring Paper Products, the leading U.S. supplier of blue books, confirmed a demand surge, attributing it to the need to “ChatGPT-proof” classrooms.

Blue books force students to write answers by hand under proctored conditions, eliminating access to AI tools during exams. Professors across disciplines—political science, economics, humanities—are adopting them, alongside oral exams and real-time essay prompts, to ensure authenticity. For example, Alexandra Garrett, an assistant professor at St. Michael’s College, uses blue books for all exams in her early American history course, valuing their ability to test genuine knowledge despite occasional illegible handwriting.

The shift isn’t limited to colleges. High schools are also reverting to handwritten assignments, with some, like the school mentioned by X user @protosphinx, requiring all work to be done on paper to curb AI use. Research supports this approach: Vanderbilt University’s Sophia Vinci-Booher found that handwriting activates brain systems linked to reading and letter recognition more than typing, potentially enhancing learning.

Why Blue Books? The Analog Advantage

Blue books offer a straightforward solution to a digital problem. By requiring handwritten responses in a controlled environment, they minimize opportunities for AI interference. Proctors enforce no-device policies, checking for gadgets like programmable glasses or smartwatches, as noted in Reddit discussions about stringent exam protocols. Unlike take-home exams, where students can use AI to craft polished essays, in-class blue book exams demand real-time knowledge and critical thinking.

The resurgence also taps into nostalgia for a pre-digital era when cheating required more effort, like hiring a ghostwriter. As India Today noted, blue books’ “low-tech nature is now seen as a strength,” forcing students to rely on their own “dimaag” (mind). X user @Soul0Engineer emphasized that in engineering and math, blue books never left, as well-constructed problems can test process understanding without calculators.

Limitations and Criticisms

Despite their revival, blue books aren’t a panacea. Philip D. Bunn, an assistant professor at Covenant College, argues that in-class essays can’t replicate the depth of take-home research papers, which allow for nuanced analysis and proper citations. “Something serious is lost” when traditional essays are abandoned, he wrote, highlighting the value of extended critical thinking.

Moreover, blue books don’t address AI use outside exams. Students can still use AI for homework or take-home assignments, and detection tools remain unreliable. New York Magazine reported that 94% of AI-generated assignments go undetected, underscoring the challenge. Some educators, like those at American University’s Kogod School of Business, advocate teaching responsible AI use rather than banning it, arguing that students need to learn how to integrate AI ethically into their work.

Handwriting also poses practical issues. Students accustomed to typing may struggle with speed or legibility, and those with poor handwriting, like one Reddit user, lament the return to analog. Accessibility concerns arise for students with disabilities who rely on digital tools. Additionally, X user @wholisticguy humorously suggested extreme measures like conducting classes in the woods without phone reception, reflecting frustration with half-measures.

Broader Implications

The blue book comeback reflects a deeper crisis in education. Gizmodo warns of an “aggressive stupidification” as students prioritize grades over learning, viewing education as a transactional game. A 2023 intelligent.com survey found that 66% of educators are rethinking assignments due to AI, with 76% requiring handwritten work and 87% incorporating oral presentations. This shift suggests a return to valuing process over product, as handwriting forces students to engage actively with material.

However, the debate isn’t one-sided. The New Yorker argues that the AI-cheating panic may overstate the problem, noting that Turnitin’s 2024 data showed only 3% of assignments were mostly AI-generated, consistent with pre-AI cheating rates of 60–70%. This suggests that while AI makes cheating easier, it hasn’t caused a dramatic spike. Instead, the focus on cheating may distract from teaching students how to use AI as a tool, not a crutch.

X posts reveal polarized sentiments. @NewsNation highlighted educators’ shift to handwritten exams, while @michael_cryne noted that AI-generated errors, like fake citations, are easily caught, suggesting academic offense panels are effective. Conversely, @MarshaCollier and @infosec_fox emphasized the scale of the problem, framing blue books as a last line of defense.

Looking Ahead

The return of blue books is a pragmatic response to an AI-driven challenge, but it’s not a long-term solution. Educators must balance analog assessments with digital literacy, teaching students to use AI responsibly. Policies on AI use remain inconsistent—51% of higher education leaders see no issue with AI-generated outlines, while others disagree. As Education Week suggests, the focus should shift to transparency: how should students cite AI use, and when is it permissible?

The blue book revival underscores a broader truth: technology reshapes education, but human ingenuity and integrity remain essential. As schools navigate this crisis, blending old-school methods with forward-thinking policies will be key to ensuring that learning, not just grades, remains the goal.